Thinking about the phrase am art makes me realize how much we overcomplicate the whole idea of being creative. We tend to think of art as something that happens "over there"—in a gallery, on a stage, or inside a fancy frame. But honestly, the moment you decide that you are the canvas, everything changes. It's a bit of a shift in perspective, moving away from the idea that art is a product you sell and toward the idea that it's a way you exist in the world.
I've always felt that the best way to approach life is to treat every day like a blank page. It sounds a bit cheesy, I know, but if you don't take that mindset, it's way too easy to get bogged down in the boring, repetitive stuff. When I say I am art, I'm not saying I'm a masterpiece that's finished and perfect. I'm saying I'm a work in progress, full of smudges, weird color choices, and a few tears in the paper.
The Morning Ritual of Creating
There's something special about the early hours, that "AM" time where the world is still a bit blurry. For a lot of people, am art is literally about what happens before the sun is fully up. It's that quiet window where your brain hasn't been polluted by emails, news alerts, or the general chaos of the day.
I've found that my best ideas don't come when I'm staring at a screen at 2 PM. They come when I'm half-awake, clutching a mug of coffee, just letting my thoughts drift. If you can tap into that weird, dreamy headspace, you'll find that your creativity feels a lot more honest. You aren't trying to impress anyone yet because no one else is awake to see it. It's just you and whatever it is you're making.
Finding Your Flow in the Quiet
The "AM" part of the creative process is really about protection. You're protecting your peace. Whether you're painting, writing, or just figuring out a weird DIY project in the garage, doing it early feels like a secret. There's no pressure to perform. You can mess up, throw things away, and start over before the rest of the world even knows you're awake. That's where the real magic happens—in the mistakes nobody sees.
Stop Waiting for Permission
One of the biggest hurdles we face is this weird feeling that we need someone else to tell us it's okay to be "an artist." We wait for a degree, a job title, or a social media following to validate us. But the truth is, the am art philosophy is about self-validation. You don't need a permit to be creative. You just do it.
I spent years thinking I couldn't call myself a writer because I wasn't getting paid for it. Then I realized that was total nonsense. If you're writing, you're a writer. If you're living with intention and trying to make things beautiful or interesting, you're an artist. It's as simple as that. The moment you stop waiting for permission is the moment you actually start growing.
Embracing the "Bad" Art
We're so afraid of making something ugly. We live in this world of curated Instagram feeds where everything looks polished and perfect. But if you're gonna live by the am art mantra, you have to be okay with being "bad" at it for a while. Actually, you should probably be okay with being bad at it forever.
The goal isn't always to produce something that belongs in the Louvre. Sometimes the goal is just to see what happens when you mix two colors together or how it feels to write a poem that doesn't rhyme. There's a huge amount of freedom in just letting yourself be mediocre. It takes the weight off your shoulders.
Your Life as a Medium
If we look at the idea that "I am art," then our clothes, our homes, and even the way we talk become part of the medium. Have you ever noticed how some people just have a "vibe"? It's not necessarily that they're wearing expensive clothes; it's that they've put themselves together in a way that feels intentional.
Your environment plays such a huge role in how you feel. I'm not saying you need to live in a museum, but filling your space with things that actually mean something to you—weird thrift store finds, old photos, plants that you've somehow managed to keep alive—that's all part of the process. It's about curating a life that feels like you.
The Physicality of Expression
I think we spend way too much time in our heads and not enough time using our hands. There's something deeply satisfying about the physical act of making something. Whether it's gardening, cooking a complex meal, or even just doodling on a napkin, that physical connection to the world is vital. It grounds you. It reminds you that you're a physical being in a physical world, not just a ghost in a machine scrolling through a feed.
Dealing with the Critics (Inner and Outer)
Let's be real: people can be judgmental. And even worse than other people is that annoying little voice in your head that tells you you're wasting your time. When you start telling yourself "I am art," that inner critic is going to have a field day. It'll tell you you're being pretentious or that what you're doing doesn't matter.
The trick is to treat that voice like a background noise, like a fan or a distant lawnmower. You hear it, but you don't have to listen to it. You just keep doing your thing. Most of the time, people who criticize others for being "too much" or "too creative" are usually just frustrated that they aren't letting themselves do the same thing.
Finding Your Community
It helps to find people who get it. You don't need a huge squad, just a couple of friends who won't roll their eyes when you talk about your new obsession with watercoloring or your plan to re-decorate your bedroom for the tenth time. When you surround yourself with people who also believe they am art, it creates this feedback loop of inspiration. You start pushing each other to be weirder, bolder, and more authentic.
The Ever-Changing Canvas
The coolest part about this whole mindset is that it never has to stop. You don't "finish" being art. As you get older, your style changes, your perspective shifts, and the way you express yourself evolves. What felt like the right way to live ten years ago probably won't feel right today, and that's fine.
I think we get stuck trying to stay the same person we've always been because it feels safe. But art isn't about being safe. It's about exploration. It's about seeing how far you can stretch and how much you can change before you don't recognize yourself anymore—and then realizing that's the whole point.
Boldly leaning into who you are right now, without worrying about who you were yesterday, is the ultimate creative act. Whether you're in your "AM" phase of life—starting something new—or you're deep in the middle of a long-term project, remember that you're the one holding the brush.
Why It Matters in the Long Run
At the end of the day, looking at the world through an am art lens just makes life more interesting. It turns a boring commute into a study of light and shadow. It turns a simple conversation into an exchange of ideas. It makes the hard times feel like a necessary "dark" patch in a painting that needs contrast to look good.
We only get one shot at this, so why not make it look like something worth seeing? Don't worry about the critics, don't worry about the "market value" of your life, and definitely don't worry about being perfect. Just show up, be messy, and keep creating. Because you aren't just making art—you are the art. And honestly, that's more than enough.